Background:

The City of Kirkland values being a green and sustainable community. Kirkland residents regularly have high recycling diversion rates and are open to receiving more information on sustainability. Commercial customers have the opportunity to recycle and compost food scraps as well but haven’t had the same level of participation as the residential sector. The barriers to successful waste reduction, recycling, and composting are more significant and challenging in the commercial sector and require a more customized approach to addressing them. Through specialized outreach and technical assistance Kirkland has been increasing the quality of recycling and the quantity of material for recycling or composting. Kirkland seeks to improve access to recycling, composting, and waste reduction support for all Kirkland businesses.

Purpose:

The purpose of this contract is to offer direct technical assistance to Kirkland commercial customers to improve and increase recycling and composting, to reduce waste and use of single use items, and to educate about the new Washington State single use serviceware on-request law, RCW 70A.245.080. Through this contract we aim to support Kirkland businesses in taking actions to become more sustainable. This outreach work is aimed at all types of Kirkland businesses in support of an inclusive and welcoming economy. Kirkland’s Sustainability Master Plan has key goals to engage with businesses on sustainable business practices, reduce single use food service ware, and increase the number of businesses composting food scraps.

Goals:

Through this commercial outreach contact, the City of Kirkland aims to assist at least 40 businesses with technical assistance visits. Through this contract, we would like to reimburse at least 10 businesses in switching from a single use disposable item to a durable reusable alternative. Waste Management, Kirkland’s solid waste hauler also may be doing outreach to Kirkland commercial customers during this contract period, so there may be opportunity to collaborate on outreach.

• Task 1: Technical Assistance and Education The key components of this outreach are: 1. Increase participation in Kirkland’s business composting program and diversion of food scraps from businesses, especially restaurants. 2. Reduce use of single use service ware and assist businesses in switching to durables. 3. Educate about the new on-request serviceware component of Washington State Law, RCW 70A.245.080. This education focus is minor compared to the other components.
• Task 2: Waste reduction supply reimbursement Through this task, we are looking to creatively support businesses that would like to reduce waste and single use items. Waste reduction supplies could include bins and other waste sorting supplies or things like a stock of durable water cups to replace single use disposable items that the business was using. Work being done by Rethink Disposables and Upstream’s Reusable Wins show the value of assisting businesses with switching to durable food service ware. We will allocate up to $500 reimbursement per business, with a total budget of $5,000 for reimbursement of waste reduction supplies.

Outcomes:

Through this project, our goals are to assist businesses in 1 - composting food scraps, 2 – reducing use of single use items and switching to durables, and 3 – educating about the on-request component of Washington State law. We aim to assist 40 businesses with personalized support by the end of 2022. We aim to increase Kirkland’s commercial recycling rate by 2% by the end of 2022. We have a goal to reach 150 businesses actively participating in our food scrap program by the end of 2022. Through this contract, our goal would be to add 15 businesses to commercial composting.

Through this task we will evaluate:

• The number of businesses assisted

• The number of food scrap compost customers

• The number of bins and posters provided to businesses

• Overall tonnage of commercial food waste route

• The additional numbers and value of waste reduction supplies, like durable silverware purchased

• Kirkland’s commercial recycling rate reported by the hauler

Reporting:

The consultant will provide the City with progress reports and a final project summary report. The report shall include:

• List of businesses assisted with technical assistance, and what resources provided

• Case studies of the 10 businesses provided with waste reduction supply reimbursement funds

• Number of new food scrap composting businesses

• Summary of the education component on the serviceware on-request law

The final project summary report will provide an evaluation of the overall success of the project and recommendations for future outreach activities.

The Consultant will submit invoices broken down by task, project staff, hours per staff, hourly billable rate, total cost per task, and overall cost. A status update for each task will accompany each invoice. The Consultant will meet regularly and as needed throughout the project with the City’s Solid Waste team to discuss progress to date, needed course corrections, and plans for upcoming work.

Timeline:

The work of this contract must be completed by December 15, 2022.

Budget:

$5,000 for waste reduction supplies reimbursement. $35,000 for technical assistance outreach support and reporting.